Washington, D.C. —- Congressman G. K. Butterfield’s legislation aimed at making it easier for communities to acquire surplus federal electronic equipment at little or no cost moved forward with a committee hearing today.
The Federal Electronic Equipment Donation Act of 2007 (FEED Act), H.R. 752, was among the bills considered by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during a subcommittee hearing today. The committee did not make any recommendations on the bill and Butterfield said that he is hopeful the full committee will soon vote to approve the bipartisan bill, which has 61 cosponsors.
“The federal government spends an enormous amount of the taxpayers’ money on technology,” Butterfield said. “Once equipment becomes slightly outdated, it shouldn’t sit idle or go to waste when there are so many needy small cities, towns, counties, schools and libraries that can still put it to good use.”
Butterfield put the legislation forward upon learning that Roper, N.C. Mayor Bunny Sanders had contacted the office because the town was unable to secure used federal surplus electronic equipment for its Technology Center. Butterfield explained that while an executive order directing excess federal equipment to be donated to communities, it lacks the force of law.
Sanders testified before the subcommittee today about the need for the bill. Butterfield also made a statement on the bipartisan bill during the hearing.
The FEED Act would streamline the process for donating excess and surplus electronic equipment to small cities, towns, counties, schools, libraries and community-based educational non-profit organizations. Butterfield said the legislation gives preference to poorer communities, which often have the greatest needs. The act would direct federal agencies to transfer excess equipment to the General Services Administration (GSA) for transfer to the qualifying recipient at little or no cost.
Butterfield said that the bill is particularly important to communities in eastern North Carolina and could be an important tool in building the electronic infrastructure for local governments, schools, libraries and educational non-profits.
“Many of the communities I represent need every bit of help they can get, and hopefully this will free up some resources that can be used to address other pressing needs,” Butterfield said.
Butterfield pointed out that a great deal of money is spent by federal agencies on electronic equipment required to meet their needs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s budget alone, for example, includes more than $110 million in annual technology-related costs.